A 25-year-old man is in custody after shooting a Milwaukee police officer during a standoff near Lincoln Park on Tuesday, Jan. 2.
According to Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman, officers responded to a domestic violence incident involving a subject with a gun on the 1800 block of West Fairmount Ave. around 9:20 a.m.
Upon arrival, officers engaged with the suspect, a 25-year-old man, but he wasn't cooperating. The suspect then fired shots from the front of the home and officers returned fire.
Some of the officers relocated to the back of the home, and the suspect fired more shots, striking a Milwaukee police officer. Police sources tell TMJ4 News that the officer was shot in the leg, and will be okay. The injured officer is a 38-year-old man with over 16 years of service. Chief Norman says he was transported to a local hospital. An additional officer suffered a minor injury but didn't need medical treatment.
The suspect retreated back into the home and refused to surrender. At the time, four children were also inside the home.
It took several hours of negotiations before police say the suspect released the children and surrendered.
Chief Norman said with the help of SWAT and negotiators, "We have four children that were able to see their mother and an individual that did not have to be harmed."
A firearm was also recovered.
Criminal charges will be referred to the Milwaukee District Attorney's Office.
Chief Norman says the suspect has a criminal history. It is not yet known if he is the father of the children involved in the incident.
Milwaukee County sheriff's deputies, Milwaukee firefighters, and Milwaukee police officers initially gathered near the corner of Fairmount and Green Bay Avenue. That's near Lincoln Park.
Neighbors in the area say they heard several shots fired and that gunfire is unusual for the area.
One neighbor told TMJ4 he lives on the top floor of the duplex police were called to. He says officers evacuated him from the building.
TyQuana Payne explained that when she saw police near her aunt's home she grew worried and stopped.
"We heard the police say it's the Milwaukee Police Department. Come out with your hands up," Payne said.
Payne added that her aunt and her aunt's sons live on the top floor of the duplex police were responding to.
"The other officer told me you got to move because they’re shooting," Payne recalled. "I seen the police with the guns out. All I seen was the police, they was going back behind the truck and when they went behind the truck I seen one of the police officers—boom. I was like dang he got hit."
A spokesperson for Marvin Pratt School, located near the scene at Green Bay and Villard, released the following statement to TMJ4:
"This morning an incident happened near one of our school buildings resulting in a law enforcement presence in the neighborhood. It was not related to our property or students.
Out of an abundance of caution, students have been directed to remain in classrooms until the situation is resolved. Individuals will not be allowed in or out of the building until the situation is cleared by the police department.
The safety of students and staff is our number one priority. The district has processes in place to keep everyone safe when situations arise."
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
